Top Items:
Greg Sargent / The Plum Line:
Dems will vote on just middle class tax cuts, Hoyer says — Steny Hoyer, the number two in the House Dem leadership, told Democrats at a caucus meeting this morning that they would get to vote this year on just extending the Bush tax cuts for the middle class, a senior Dem aide tells me …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Ezra Klein, Mother Jones, Time, National Review, TPMDC, Swampland, Daily Kos and Balloon Juice
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David Leonhardt / Economix:
Were the Bush Tax Cuts Good for Growth? — Liz Peek at FoxNews.com congratulates me for writing about the importance of economic growth. So in the spirit of maximizing growth, I want to pose a question: Why should we believe that extending the Bush tax cuts will provide a big lift to growth?
Discussion:
Yglesias, National Review, Guardian, Washington Monthly, The Stir By CafeMom and Oliver Willis
Russell Berman / The Hill:
No. 2 Dem said House caucus needs ‘more openness and inclusiveness’
No. 2 Dem said House caucus needs ‘more openness and inclusiveness’
Discussion:
The Politico, The Note and CNN
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CARVILLE: OBAMA NEEDS A PAIR — Speaking to reporters Thursday, Democratic strategist James Carville dropped this one-liner: “If Hillary gave up one of her balls and gave it to Obama, he'd have two.” — The quote was first noted by Tribune reporter Mike Memoli on his Twitter account.
Discussion:
Michelle Malkin, Taylor Marsh, Weasel Zippers, Dennis the Peasant, The Confluence and TPMDC
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Shane D'Aprile / Ballot Box:
Top Dem strategists claim White House was ‘out of touch’ during 2010 campaign
Top Dem strategists claim White House was ‘out of touch’ during 2010 campaign
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog
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Fox News Chief Blasts NPR ‘Nazis’ — Roger Ailes slams Jon Stewart as a conservative-basher, explains why he rode to Juan Williams' rescue—and sees NPR as taxpayer-funded propaganda. Part II of Howard Kurtz's interview. — When Jon Stewart was appearing on the O'Reilly Factor a few weeks back …
Discussion:
The Politico, The Moderate Voice, Mother Jones, Democracy in America, TPM LiveWire, BlogPost, Washington Monthly, Mediaite, Talking Points Memo, The Huffington Post, Media Matters for America, Gawker, New York Magazine, No More Mister Nice Blog, Weasel Zippers, News Hounds, Raw Story and Little Green Footballs, more at Mediagazer »
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Eric Boehlert / Media Matters for America:
Will NPR's Mara Liasson defend her colleagues from Roger Ailes' “Nazi” attack? — Remember, NPR's Mara Liasson thinks Fox News is a legitimate news outlet and doesn't see anything wrong with getting paid to appear on its programs. — Keep that in mind as you read this crazy outburst from Fox News chief, Roger Ailes:
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Controversy over pat-downs, body scans lands at DIA — Despite ongoing criticism from some Washington lawmakers and many travelers, Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole refused Wednesday to back off the agency's position that tougher airport screening techniques are needed to counter evolving threats.
Discussion:
PostPartisan, Paul Mulshine, Seattle Times, Washington Post, Left Coast Rebel, Federal Eye, HotAirPundit, RedState and CBS News
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Mark Joyella / Mediaite:
The Junk Grabbing Photo You'll Be Seeing All Day Today — Sometimes all it takes to launch another wave of talk about a hot topic is an image. And when it comes to junk grabbing, that picture comes to us today from Denver. — The Denver Post, in a front-page story Thursday morning …
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh
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Pence: Don't Forget Social Issues; Decision on Presidential Run ‘Sometime Early Next Year’ — ABC News' Rick Klein reports: — Rep. Mike Pence this week left his post in House leadership, with the wide presumption that he'll run for president or for governor of Indiana in 2012.
Discussion:
The Page, Conservatives4Congress and GOP 12
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Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Top governors turn against Michael Steele
Top governors turn against Michael Steele
Discussion:
Power Line, CNN, The Fix, The Note, GOP 12 and Commentary
Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
The Ghailani verdict and American justice — A federal jury in New York yesterday returned a guilty verdict against accused Terrorist Ahmed Ghailani on one count of conspiracy to blow up a government building, a crime which entails a sentence of 20 years to life, but acquitted …
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Paul Waldman / American Prospect:
Terrorism Conviction Supposedly Demonstrates Futility of Seeking …
Terrorism Conviction Supposedly Demonstrates Futility of Seeking …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Mother Jones, New York Times, NY Daily News, Commentary, The Plum Line, Wonk Room and Newshoggers.com
Jake Tapper / Political Punch:
Senior Administration Official Defends Ghailani Trial, Verdict
Senior Administration Official Defends Ghailani Trial, Verdict
Discussion:
The Hill, Wake up America, TPMMuckraker, Weasel Zippers, Liberty Pundits Blog, Ace of Spades HQ, Associated Press, Emptywheel, Michelle Malkin, Washington Monthly, Beltway Confidential, Talking Points Memo, American Power, Balloon Juice, JammieWearingFool, Washington Post and New York Times
Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
House fails to eliminate NPR funding — The House on Thursday voted to move forward on legislation without voting on a proposal put forth by Republicans to defund NPR. — Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), the next majority leader, said the vote demonstrates that Democrats “are still not ready to listen” …
Discussion:
The Caucus, Little Green Footballs, Raw Story, Weasel Zippers, Left Coast Rebel and Wake up America
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Patrick O'Connor / Washington Wire:
House GOP: No U.S. Funds for NPR
House GOP: No U.S. Funds for NPR
Discussion:
republicanwhip.house.gov
Philip Klein / American Spectator:
The Unorthodox Frontrunner — Viewed in isolation, Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential candidacy is doomed. — In 2008, Romney earned himself a reputation as a flip-flopper as he dramatically attempted to reshape himself as a stanch conservative despite having previously staked out liberal positions …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, A plain blog about politics and AmSpecBlog
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Tom Jensen / Public Policy Polling:
Virginia Republicans want Allen
Virginia Republicans want Allen
Discussion:
Ballot Box and GOP 12
CBS News:
Counsel Recommends Censure in Rangel Ethics Case — Punishment, If Carried Out, Would Be Most Serious Shy of Expulsion; Longtime N.Y. Rep. Found Guilty of 11 Ethics Violations — The House ethics committee's chief counsel recommended Thursday that veteran Rep. Charles Rangel be censured …
Discussion:
Talk Radio News Service
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Vote on Whether This Couple Gets an Abortion — The Arnolds are having a baby. Unless the public votes to have the child aborted. Meet the couple behind Birthornot.com, where “you can vote and choose whether we abort or keep our unborn child.” — Pete and Alisha Arnold, both 30 …
Discussion:
Hot Air, Jezebel, Weasel Zippers, Mediaite, Wake up America and The Stir By CafeMom
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Have Scott Brown and Ron Wyden figured out the way forward on health care? — The GOP's slogan on health-care reform has, till now, been “repeal and replace.” But they don't have the votes for either. What they might have the votes for is reform that, maybe, one day, if all goes well, could lead to replacement.
Discussion:
Yglesias, Hit & Run, National Review and The New Republic
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Sanford Airport to opt out of TSA screening — Reporter: Ken Tyndall — The backlash continues over those new TSA screening measures, and now one Central Florida airport has decided to go with a private security screening firm. — Orlando Sanford International Airport has decided to opt out from TSA screening.
Discussion:
TheAustralian, Hot Air, Don Surber, Raw Story, LewRockwell.com Blog, The Consumerist, Hit & Run and Gizmodo
Megan McArdle / The Atlantic Online:
Dear Airline, I'm Leaving You — But don't feel too bad. It's not you, it's me. Or rather, it's the TSA. — I'm not going to lie. It's come between us. If I have to let someone else see me naked in order to be with you—well, I'm just not that kinky. And deep down, I don't think you are either.
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway and ProfessorBainbridge.com
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Unemployment Insurance Bill Fails in House; Needed 2/3 Vote Under Suspension — As I mentioned this morning, the House tried today for a three-month extension of expiring unemployment benefits, which would have continued them until Feb. 28, 2011. This was called under suspension of the rules …
Discussion:
Daily Kos and Open Congress
Matt Miller / Washington Post:
Ohhh, America, you're so strong — Oooh, you're so strong, baby, so handsome. You're the greatest. — I'm talking about you, America. You're . . . why, you're exceptional! — Does anyone else think there's something a little insecure about a country that requires its politicians to constantly declare how exceptional it is?
Discussion:
Simply Left BehindThe …, Don Surber, JustOneMinute, Right Wing News and Daily Kos
RealClearPolitics Video Log:
Sen. Rockefeller: FCC Should Take FOX News, MSNBC Off Airwaves — SEN. JAY ROCKEFELLER (D-WV): “There's a little bug inside of me which wants to get the FCC to say to FOX and to MSNBC: ‘Out. Off. End. Goodbye.’ It would be a big favor to political discourse; to our ability to do our work …
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D'oh: Sen. Dodd's Tweet of the Day Update: Dodd's office sends e-mail — This is from Corruptocrat Sen. Chris Dodd's official Twitter feed. — Leave your best guess about who the message was meant for and what “sh*t” his office is talking about...Angelo Mozilo and one last sweetheart deal?
Discussion:
Mediaite, Capitol Watch and Gawker
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Clinton critical of religious freedom in Europe — WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized Wednesday the state of religious freedom in Europe, as Washington highlighted policies and attitudes toward Muslim veils and Islam as a whole.
Discussion:
Bare Naked Islam's Weblog and Weasel Zippers
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READ the 20th Amendment: New Republican Senators Violating US Constitution — A handful of newly elected Republican US Senators have written to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid trying to undo the Constitutional authority of other elected incumbent US Senators. — That's right.
Discussion:
Foreign Policy, Outside the Beltway, ACS Blog, Eunomia and The Atlantic Online
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A little advice for Obama at the half — Like any good coach, the president needs to make some halftime adjustments. Here are a few that will work. — By Harold Ford Jr., contributor — Harold Ford Jr. is chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council and a visiting professor …
Discussion:
The New Republic
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DeLay Begins His Defense With A Big Mistake — Tom DeLay's lawyers began his defense yesterday by helping prove the prosecution's case. — DeLay, the former Republican House majority leader, is standing trial in Texas on allegations that he orchestrated a money swap.
Discussion:
Houston Chronicle
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Time for Holder to go — Let's face it. Barack Obama and Eric Holder gambled their entire national-security credibility on the Ahmed “Foopie” Ghailani trial, arguing that they could get convictions of detainees captured abroad by military and intelligence assets while using federal courts …
Discussion:
Wake up America, Sister Toldjah, Fausta's Blog and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog
Eugene / My Modern Metropolis:
Grandma's Superhero Therapy (18 photos) — A few years ago, French photographer Sacha Goldberger found his 91-year-old Hungarian grandmother Frederika feeling lonely and depressed. To cheer her up, he suggested that they shoot a series of outrageous photographs in unusual costumes, poses, and locations.
Discussion:
Ezra Klein